Stamp-affixing device



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

G. J. ROLLANDET.

STAMP APFIXING DEVICE. 3 No. 540,599. Patented June 4, 1895.

IN VENT 0R m1. /2. Adda/Yd BY I ATTORNEY THE wonms PEYERS cc PHOTOLITNG, mswucrrom n, c.

N ITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

G'ERRIT J. ROLLANDET, on DENVER, COLORADO.

STAMP-AFFIXING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,599 dated June 4, 1895.

App filed April 41 89 Serial No. 506.252. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it mayazoncern:

Be it known that I, GERRIT J. ROLLANDET, a subject of \Vilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands, but having declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Aftixing Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for holding and affixing stamps and labels; andthough specially designed for applying postage stamps to envelopes, it is evident that the device is not limited to this use, and that it may be employed to advantage in all similar relations.

My object is to provide an instrument of this class in which the maximum of simplicity, and economy of construction shall be combined with durability and thorough practicability in use; and to this end, the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the device. same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, the operating parts being shown in two positions. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, the operating parts being shown in the position they occupy at the instant the stamp is applied to the moistened surface. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the stamp box and casing, the vertical stern being shown in elevation and partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line an ac, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an underneath view of the casing. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the moistening device. Fig. 10 is a side elevation in detail of the stamp-box. Fig. 11 is a perspective view in detail of the piston carried by the stamp-box. Fig. 12 is an elevation in de- Fig. 2 is a front viewof the 'to receive the inner extremities of the screw pins 6 which connect the plunger frame 7 with the casing. These screw pins pass through threaded apertures formed in the lower extremities of thearms 7 of the frame, protrude through the slots 5 and enter slots 8 formed in the sides of the stamp box 8 which is pivoted in the casing 5 by the screw pins 9.

The box 8 is provided with the inner part 8 having pins 8 which protrude through slots 8 formed in the body of the box, and engage small steel-wire springs 8 made fast to the sides of the box on the outer surface as shown at 8 This inner part of the box may be called :the stamp holder, or retainer, and is normally supported within the body of the box by the springs 8 while the slots 8 allow su'fficient movement to eject a stamp when the mouth of the boxis in position directly above the surface to be stamped. The part 8is provided with narrow retaining flanges 8 which normally support the stamps in position, but allow them to escape singly when acted on by the piston 12,,driven by the plunger 13; The

piston is located within the stamp holder, and is composed of the two plates 12 and 1290011 nected by the stem 12 The stem of the piston passes through the partition 8* of the holder which is apertured to receive it.

The plate 12 is located adjacent the stamps Hence, the pressure of the piston is.

' engages a stop 17 which passes through slots 13 formed in the plunger, and apertures formed in a collar 5 formed at the top of the casing 5, and surrounding the aperture through which the plunger passes. The slots 13 of the plunger are vertical and of sulficient length to permit the desired movement when the device is in use.

The spring 16 normally maintains theframe 7, the plunger and the attached hand piece, at the highest limit of movement, or withthe screw pins 6 at the top of the slots of the casing 5. When the frame and plunger are in the position stated relatively to the casing,

the stamp box is held in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that is to say, with its mouth or the extremity through which the. stamps pass when applied, uppermost, and' pointing in the direction indicated by arrow a in Figs. 1 and 3. Hence, these positions of the reciprocating frame, stamp box and plnn- E ger may be called the normal positions of the parts.

I will now describe the attachment for mois- 3 tening the surface previous to the pressure of the stamp to con-tact therewith, through the g agency of the parts heretofore (1GSCl'lbBdr This feature of the invention consists of a small reservoir or receptacle adapted to contain water or other liquid which is to be e'mplo'yed as the moistening agent. W-henf gummed stamps are to be applied, as postage stamps, said receptacle will contain water.

JWhenungummed labels or stamps are to be affixed, mucilage may be employed. Let the numeral 18 designate this receptacle which is hinged to the mouth extremity of the stamp box by means of a hinge pin 18 made fast to one extremity of the receptacle, and having protruding flattened extremities 18 adapted to engage ears -or hooks 8 formed on the stamp box. The openings through which the extremities 18 pass to engage the hooks, are made only large enough to permit them to enter when the flattened sides engage the sides of the entrance, while when the extremities 18 are in position, their engaging sockets are large enough to permit them to move freely, while they can only be removed by holding them in one position. The receptacle 18 is further attached to the box 8 by means of a hanger 19 Fig. 12 having an elongated aperture 19 of irregular shape. A notch or depression 19 forms a part of this aperture. This hanger is pivoted at one extremity to the receptacle 18 as shown at 20, while it is open on one side as shown at 19' to allow a pin 8 on one side of the box 8 to enter its aperture which forms a sort of socket for the pin.

The receptacle 18 is supplied with the necessary liquid through an opening which is normally. closed by a plug 18 while the liquid escapes through a mouth 18 partly closed by some material, as felt or sponge, inserted in said mouth, and sufficiently porous to allow thewaters escape only as it is needed. Let the reference character 21 designate this porous mouth piece, which, for convenience,

I will term a sponge. As long as there is any water in thereceptacle 18, this sponge will remain sufficiently moist to dampen the surface of the envelope. Normally, the receptacle 18 occupies the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the water therein being in contact with the sponge 21. In this case, the pin 8 engages the extremity 19 of the elongated aperture or socket 19.. Now, if the frame and plunger are moved downward, the sponge 21 will pass over the surface of the envelope exposed by the'opening 5 in the bottom of the casing. The stamp box follows, and when it reaches a position directly above said opening and the exposed part of the envelope to which the stamp is to be applied,it stops, since the straight portion of the slots 8 in the stamp boxis directly in line with the slots 5 of'the casing, and the same pin 6 on either side engages both slots. As soon as the box 8 reaches this position, the lower extremity of the plunger engages the plate 12 of the piston, and as the resistance of the package of stamps below the piston is greater than the small spring 8,the stamp holder or retainer 8 is forced down against the action of said spring, which is placed under tension by the engagement of the pins 8 moving in the short slots 8 As soon, however, as these pins reach the bottom of said slots, and in any event, as soon as the stamp holder reaches the surface of the envelope, the part 8 ceases its downward movement, and the plunger acts upon the piston directly and exclusively, which is then forced downward sufficiently to eject a single stamp, and press it to engagement with the moistened part of the envelope surface, to which it will readily adhere.

After the moistener has performed its function of dampening the surface of the envelope to which the stamp is to be applied, it passes to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. 4. After leaving the surface of the envelope, a small projection 18 on one side of the receptacle 18 engages a flange 5 formed on the casing 5, and causes the stamp box and moistener to approach each other above the pivot 18 the original space between said parts being reduced from that shown in Fig. 1 to that indicated in Figs. 3 and 4'. This change from the normal relative positions of the stamp box and moistener causes the pin 8 to change its original position in the hanger 19, and pass to the part 19 of the aperture or socket 19. The object of this change in the position of the moistener is to prevent the porous mouthpiece 21 from engaging the applied stamp during the return or reverse movement of the stamp box and moistener, which movement is effected by the recoil of the spring 16 as the plunger is released from pressure. From an inspection of the drawings, it will be observed that duringthis reverse movement, the moistening mouth piece 21 is raised from the surface of the envelope, or the applied stamp, a distance equal to the space between the points 19 and 19; or more correctly, the distance between said points indicates the distance between the arcs in which the mouth piece 21 moves while the moistener and stamp box are making their respective movements, namely, the direct movement which is accomplished by forcing the frame 7 downward, resulting in applying the stamp; and the reverse movement which is accomplished by the recoil of the spring 16 after the stamp is applied, and the hand piece released from pressure. As the operatingparts return to their normal position under the influence of spring 16, the concussion or jar incident to the engagement of the pins 6 with the upper extremities of the slots 5 of the casing, supplemented or aided by gravity, is sufficient to disengage the pin 8 from the notch 19, when the moistener will move downward to its original position. All the parts are then ready to co-operate in the act of affixing another stamp.

From the foregoing description and explanation, it is believed that the construction and operation of myimproved stamp affixing device will be thoroughly understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In astamp affixer, the combination of the slotted casing, the spring-supported frame attached thereto by pins passing through the slots of the casing, a slotted stamp box connected with the frame by said pins, a stamp holder carried by the box and movably attached thereto, a movable piston located in the stamp holder, and a plunger attached to the frame and adapted to engage the piston, substantially as described.

2. In a stamp affixer, the combination of the stationary casing having the guide slots, the spring supported vertically reciprocating frame attached to the casing, the oscillating stamp box attached to said frame, the stamp holder movably attached to the box, and provided with an apertured partition, a piston located in the stamp holder, and havinga stem passing through the apertured partition, a spring located between said partition and the head of the piston, and a plunger attached to the reciprocating frame and adapted to engage the piston, substantially as described.

3. In a stamp affixer, the combination of the slotted stationary casing, the slotted stamp box pivoted in the casing and normally supported in such a position that the slots in the box form an angle with those in the casing pins passing through the slots in both, the stamp holder located in the box and provided with pins passing through short slots formed in the box, a spring attached to the box and engaged by said pins, and a piston located in the stamp holder, and suitable means for actuating the operatingparts of the device, substantially as described.

4. In a stamp affixer, the combination of the slotted casing, the slotted stamp box pivoted in the casing, pins for further connecting the box and casing,and passing through the slots in both, a spring-supported frame attached to said pins, a plunger attached to said frame,a stamp holder located in the stamp box, and carrying pins protruding through slots formed in said box, a spring attached to the box and engaged by said pins, a piston located in the stamp holder, and a spring located between the piston head and a partition attached to the stamp holder, substantially as described. 5. In a stamp aflixer, the combination with the slotted casing, of the slotted stamp box pivoted in the casing and normally supported in such a position that the slots in the box form an angle with those in the casing, and the moistening device attached to the stamp box, substantially as described.

.6. In a stamp affixer, the combination with a suitable casing, of the oscillating stamp box,

the moistener hinged to the stamp box, and an apertured hanger for further connecting the moistener with the box, whereby the position of the moistener with reference to the box changes after each moistening act, whe reby as the moistener makes the reverse movement, it clears the affixed stamp, or the surface uponwhich the casing rests, substan tially as described.

7. In a stamp affixer, the combination with a suitable casing, of the oscillating stamp box, the moistener hinged to the box, an apertured hanger for further connecting the box and moistener, said hanger being pivoted to one part, and engaging a pin or lug attached to the other part, and other means substantially as described, for causing the moistener to change position with reference to the'stamp box after each moistening act, substantially as described.

8. In a stamp aflixer, the combination of the slotted casing, the slotted stamp box pivoted therein, and further connected with the casing by pins passing through the slots of both, the moistener hinged to the box and further connected therewith by means of 'an apertured hanger,-the moistener being provided with a pin adapted to engage a flange formed on the casing, and suitable means for actuating the mechanism, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the oscillating stamp box, of the moistener hinged thereto, and composed of the liquid reservoir, and an outlet carrying a porous mouth-piece, the moistener being further connected with the box bya pivoted apertured hanger, and suitable attachments co-op'erating with the hanger, whereby the moistener changes position after each moistening act, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the oscillating stamp box, of the moistener hinged thereto,

. and composed of the liquid receptacle and the porous mouth piece, the apertured hanger attached to the moistener and engaging a pin on the box, and means co-operating with the hanger for causing the moistener to change position after each moistening act, substan tially as described. 11. In a stamp affixer, the combination With the stamp holder, of an oscillating moistener, and an apertured hanger con meeting the moistener with the stamp holder, whereby the moistener is adapted to move in different arcs i M. M. ELLIS, CHAS. E. DAWsoN. 

